Bradley Cooper Has Three Chances to Grab His Elusive First Oscar on Sunday Night

Latest News: Bradley Cooper Chases First Oscar Win

Bradley Cooper is hoping to break his Oscars winless streak on Sunday.

The 49-year-old Cooper is nominated in three categories at the 96th Academy Awards in Los Angeles: including Best Actor for his portrayal of composer Leonard Bernstein in Maestro, as well for writing and producing the 2023 biopic and Best Picture nominee. The actor has received nine previous total nominations, including two for Best Actor for American Sniper and A Star Is Born, but he has yet to win a golden statuette.

Cooper also directed Maestro, but was not nominated in that category. His co-star Carey Mulligan, who played Bernstein’s wife Felicia Montealegre, is also hoping to take home her first Oscar with a Best Actress nomination.

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Who Is Bradley Cooper?

Bradley Cooper made his television debut with a guest spot on Sex and the City. He then acted both on TV and film, in shows such as The Street and Jack & Bobby and films such as Wet Hot American Summer and Carnival Knowledge. But it was the success of 2005’s Wedding Crashers that took Cooper’s career to the next level, with subsequent roles in The Hangover, Valentine’s Day and several other films. He’s also received Academy Award nods for his work in Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, American Sniper and A Star Is Born.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Bradley Charles Cooper
BORN: January 5, 1975
BIRTHPLACE: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SPOUSE: Jennifer Esposito (2006-2007)
CHILDREN: Lea
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Capricorn

Early Life

Bradley Charles Cooper was born on January 5, 1975, in Philadelphia. Although he has enjoyed a highly successful career onscreen, Cooper initially found fulfillment in the kitchen after developing a love of cooking at an early age. “I used to have buddies come over after kindergarten, and I’d cook them food. I prided myself in taking whatever was in the fridge and turning it into lasagna,” he told Entertainment Weekly.

Cooper put his culinary ambitions aside after graduating from Georgetown University in 1997 with an English degree. He enrolled in a master’s degree program at the Actors Studio Drama School in New York City. While a student there, he landed his first television commercial for a fast-food chain.

Early TV and Movie Roles

Wet Hot American Summer and Alias

Cooper made his TV debut in 1999 with a guest spot on the popular HBO show Sex and the City. He next appeared in the short-lived drama The $treet, set in the financial world. Around this time, he made his first movie appearance in the 2001 comedy Wet Hot American Summer. Cooper then returned to television to take on a supporting role in J.J. Abrams’ popular spy series Alias (2001-06). For three seasons he played Will Tippin, a journalist friend of covert agent Sydney Bristow, played by Jennifer Garner.

Jack & Bobby and Wedding Crashers

During his time on Alias, Cooper made the independent drama Carnival Knowledge (2002) and the thriller My Little Eye (2002). He left Alias in 2003 and appeared in recurring roles on the sitcom Jack & Bobby (2004-05) and the crime drama Touching Evil (2004). Back on the big screen, Cooper played a brutish jock in the hit comedy Wedding Crashers (2005), with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn.

Kitchen Confidential

That same year, Cooper starred in his own television series Kitchen Confidential (2005-06), based on the book by famed chef Anthony Bourdain. The show received positive reviews, but it didn’t do well enough in the ratings to stay on the air. Not afraid to take risks, Cooper made his Broadway debut in the 2006 drama Three Days of Rain, with Julia Roberts and Paul Rudd.

Becoming a Movie Star

Yes Man and He’s Just Not That Into You

After the success of Wedding Crashers, Cooper landed more comedic film roles. He appeared in the romantic comedy Failure to Launch (2006), with Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker. Although that movie was met with a tepid response, Cooper enjoyed some box office success with Yes Man (2008), co-starring opposite Jim Carrey. He also appeared in the 2009 comedy He’s Just Not That Into You, inspired by the popular self-help book. In the movie, Cooper played an adulterous husband who gets involved with Scarlett Johansson’s character.

The Hangover and Sequels

Later in 2009, Cooper further proved his comedic talents with The Hangover. He co-starred with Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis in this buddy comedy. The three actors play friends who travel to Las Vegas for a bachelor-party weekend with their soon-to-be-married pal, played by Justin Bartha. After a night of debauchery, they wake up to find their buddy missing along with their memories of what happened the previous evening. The blockbuster success of the movie led to sequels in 2011 and 2013.

All About Steve and The A-Team

Cooper then starred with Sandra Bullock on the 2009 romantic comedy All About Steve, which performed poorly at the box office. His next project fared much better, however, when he played the boyfriend of Eric Dane in the ensemble comedy Valentine’s Day (2010), which also featured Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba, and Patrick Dempsey.

Cooper followed up with a remake of the popular television action series The A-Team during the summer of 2010. In addition to Cooper, the cast included Liam Neeson, Quinton Jackson, and Jessica Biel.

Limitless and The Place Beyond the Pines

The crossover into more action-packed fare continued with 2011’s Limitless, a thriller based on Alan Glynn’s 2001 novel The Dark Fields and co-starring Robert De Niro. Cooper subsequently starred in more action roles, such as Hit and Run (2011) and The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)

Oscar Nominations and Other Roles

Silver Linings Playbook

Cooper made another leap, from leading man to critically acclaimed thespian, with his performance in Silver Linings Playbook (2013). Directed by David O. Russell, the movie had Cooper in the lead role of Pat Solitano, a man who tries to readjust to society after leaving a mental institution.

Silver Linings Playbook was nominated for seven Oscars at the 2013 Academy Awards ceremony, including Best Picture and the four major acting categories. Ultimately, Cooper lost in the Best Actor race to Daniel Day-Lewis for his work in Lincoln (2012). However, Cooper’s co-star Jennifer Lawrence took home the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance.

American Hustle and Joy

Cooper continued collaborating with director David O. Russell to great rewards, starring in the ensemble cast of the ’70s-era American Hustle (2013). Cooper received another Oscar nomination, this time in the supporting actor category for his role as FBI agent Richie DiMaso. In 2015, he teamed with Russell and Jennifer Lawrence once again for Joy, based on the life of inventor Joy Mangano.

Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers

In 2014, Cooper was heard in cinemas as the voice of the acid-tongued Rocket Raccoon in the summer blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy, based on the Marvel comic book series. He reprised the role for 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy 2, as well as for the ensemble superhero flicks Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).

The Elephant Man on Broadway and American Sniper

In fall 2014, Cooper made his return to Broadway with the lead role in The Elephant Man, a successful revival of the 1979 play focusing on the life of Joseph Merrick. In April 2015, he received a Tony nomination for his performance. Late 2014 also saw the actor play the lead in Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper, based on the life of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and co-starring Sienna Miller. Cooper received his third Oscar nomination for the role.

Burnt and War Dogs

In 2015, Cooper starred as a military contractor in the romantic comedy Aloha, before returning to one of his earlier roles with the Netflix comedy series Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp. That autumn, he portrayed an acerbic two-star Michelin chef aiming for a comeback in Burnt, co-starring Sienna Miller, Uma Thurman, and Emma Thompson. He then joined Jonah Hill and Miles Teller to play an arms dealer in War Dogs (2016).

A Star Is Born

Cooper made a splash with his directorial debut, a remake of A Star Is Born (2018). Along with directing, he starred alongside Lady Gaga. The two teamed up to sing the Golden Globe and Academy Award–winning track “Shallow.” The movie also garnered Oscar nominations for Best Actor and Actress for its stars, as well as for Best Picture.

Later that year, Cooper was back on the big screen in Clint Eastwood’s The Mule, as a DEA agent on the trail of the drug runner played by the director.

Ex-Wife and Daughter

Cooper was married to actor Jennifer Esposito from 2006 to 2007. He has reportedly dated actors Renée Zellweger, Zoe Saldana, and model Suki Waterhouse. In 2015, Cooper began dating model Irina Shayk. The couple welcomed their daughter, Lea de Seine Shayk Cooper, in March 2017. In June 2019, the pair split after four years of dating.

Quotes

• I used to have buddies come over after kindergarten and I’d cook them food. I prided myself in taking whatever was in the fridge and turning it into lasagna.

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